High Court Upholds Election Petition Route for Voting Disputes in Uttarakhand Panchayat Elections

The Uttarakhand High Court has reaffirmed the procedural path for handling allegations of fraudulent voting, asserting that such claims must be pursued through an election petition. In a case brought forward by Rajendra Singh Chauhan, the court refused to cancel votes or initiate an independent probe regarding claims of fake voting in the panchayat elections.

The petition, which sought the annulment of 38 votes and a high-level investigation, was submitted under the premise of alleged electoral malpractices during the panchayat elections in Dehradun district's Joshi Gothan block. Chauhan, who contested the election, argued that fraudulent activities necessitated intervention.

The State Election Commission clarified that disputes of this nature must be tackled through election petitions, as defined by constitutional mandates and the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj Act. Upholding prior judicial opinions, the court emphasized the precedence of established legal protocols over writ petitions once election processes have commenced.

(With inputs from agencies.)